Lacing device



L. C. DEAL LACING DEVICE Jan- 18,

Filed July 28, 1925 Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

LEONARD c. DEAL, or rrarrr'ron, rows.

LACING DEVICE.

Application filed July 28, 1925.

lhe present invention relates to a lacing and lace tightening tool and aims to provide a novel and improved device of this character for the use in connection with the lacing of various objects such as footballs, basketballs, volleyballs, and the like, which will be convenient to operate and which will enable the article to be laced in an efficient or otherwise tight manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tool as indicated, having a metallic shank provided with an eye therein through which a lace extends which is to be inserted through the holes provided in the opposite edges of the article, said shank being arranged to extend forwardly in slightly a s-shape formation in order to permitthe end of the shank to be easily inserted through an opening or hole at each edge of the article during a single operation of threading the lace.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a handle which receives a portion of the shank, said handle having a relatively long tapered portion which merges into the shank, thus eliminating the forming of a shoulder at the point of connection, which would act as a hindrance in lacing, said tapered portion also acting as a means for bracing or supporting the shank against bending movement while the tool is used for the purpose of tightening the lace, the handle also being provided with a shoulder thereon spaced from the shank for serving the purpose of a thumb rest in order that pressure may be easily applied upon the tool for inserting the shank through the holes when the lace is to be threaded. The tapered portion is rocked forwardly under the laces drawing them tight.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tool of the kind indicated, which is simple and substantial in construction, which can be manufactured economically, and which will be thoroughly eflicient and prac tical in use.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that'changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

$eria1 No. 46,623.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of my imni'oved device, showing the same in the act of lacing a football, and

Figure 2 is an elevation of the device showing portions thereof in section, and also showing in dotted lines the manner in which the tool is engaged by the operator.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an inflatable ,object, which in the present instance is a football, which is provided with opposite side edges 11 having holes or openings 12 therein through which the lace 18 is to be threaded for holding said opposite side edges 11 in close proximity to each other and for closing the opening be tween said edges.

In carrying out my invention, I have provided a metallic shank 15 which is slightly flattened, as at 16, and provided with an opening 17 extending therethrough at said flatten ed portion, said flattened portion and opening being provided adjacent the free or pointed end 18 ofthe shank. The opposite end of the shank extends into an opening 19 provided in a relatively long tapered extension 20 formed on the forward end of the handle 21. The tapered portion 20 is gradually reduced in size as it extends forwardly and gradually merges into the shank 15 at its forward end, so that the major portion of said shank is received in the opening 19.

The portion of the shank 15 which extends forwardly of the tapered portion 19 is arranged in a slightly S-shape formation,

as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, in order that the same may be easily lnserted through the openings 12 during the thread ing of the lace. By tapering the extension formed on the handle at the forward end of said tapered portion does not form a shoulder where it connects with the shank, it can be seen that said point of connection will not form a hindrance during the lacing of the article, but that said tapered portion 20 will form a means for supporting the shank 15 against bending movement during the tightening of the lace, said tapered portion also permitting the shank to be easily and eiiiciently placed under the laces in order that the same may be tightened. At the point where the handle joins with the tapered portion 20 an annular curved shoulder 22 is proto be threaded through said openings.

vided which will form a thumb rest, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, so that pressure may be easily applied upon the tool for inserting the point 18 of the shank through the openings or holes in the opposite side edges of the article to be laced. It is also to be noted that by providing a handle as in the present instance that the operator Will have full control over the tool to permit him to easily and etiiciently insert the pointed end 18 through the openings 12, and under the lace 13 in tightenin In operation, one end of the lace 13 is inserted through the opening 17 in the shank 15 and the tool is moved about, inserting the pointed end 18 through the openings 12 at the opposite edges of the portion of the article to be laced, which will cause the liigce y forming the portion of the shank not received in the tapered portion 20 of slightly an S-shape formation, it will he noted that when the point 01"" the shank is inserted through an opening from the outside of the article, said pointed end may be easily extended through another opening in the op posite edge or the article in order that said lace may be threaded through both of said openings during a single operation of lacing, said S-shaped formation also eliminating to a great extent the danger of the inflated bag Within the article from being punctured by the point of my improved tool. After the lace has been threaded through all of the openings 12 the shank of my tool is inserted under cross portions of the lace and is rolled forwardly or moved forwardly so that the lace may be tightened, said tapered extension formed on the handle serving as means for preventing the bending or otherwise distorting oi the shank during such tightening operation. The thumb of the left hand is placed against the tightened lace and the tool removed and inserted under the next lace.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A. lacing and lace tightening tool corn prising a handle having a cone shaped end portion, a shank member inserted in the smaller end of the cone shaped portion, said cone shaped portion gradually merging into the shank so as to provide a tree unol'istructed surface at such point, said shank being curved laterally and protruding a short distance from the small end of the cone shaped portion and provided with an eye at a point slightly beyond said curve.

2. A lacing tool comprising a handle having a cone shaped end portion, a shank member inserted in the smaller end of the cone shaped portion and being curved laterally at a point adjacent the end of the cone shaped portion the said shank member being reversely curved at a point beyond the first mentioned curve and having an eye passing transversely therethrough at the reversely curved portion.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature.

LEONARD C. DEAL. 

